Vic axe man denies shooting friend's lover

A Melbourne septuagenarian who walked into his home with a tomahawk has denied allegations he also armed himself with a sawn-off rifle to shoot his housemate's lover.

Manfred Ulrich Kobert, now 77, is facing a jury trial charged with intentionally shooting Matthew Lovitt, 38, piercing his liver and right kidney, in May 2016.

The County Court of Victoria was told on Thursday that although Kobert agreed he entered the property with a "small axe", he didn't agree the gun was his, nor that he brought it into his home, or that he aimed it at Mr Lovitt.

Kobert had invited a friend, 44-year-old Amanda Swanson, to live with him as she needed accommodation, the court was told.

She introduced Kobert to her then-boyfriend, Mr Lovitt, who began to stay at the Mitcham residence.